By RIK FORSCHMIEDT

For The Beachcomber

Three girls advance to Mat Classic, the state championship wrestling tournament, and the Pirates were the sixth place team in the regional tournament last Saturday at Emerald Ridge.

It was not a bad day for the three girls on the Vashon High School wrestling team.

Sylvie Shiosaki, last year’s 112-pound champion, took first place in the 119-pound weight class. Madeline Wolczko was third at 103. And freshman Iris Spring earned fourth place at 125.

Shiosaki won by pin in the first round. In her semifinal she needed less than 30 seconds to pin Ashley Orr from White River. In the championship final Shiosaki dominated Lucia Blanchard from Rogers 25-11, one point short of a technical fall.

Wolczko drew her toughest match in the first round, losing to the eventual second-place finisher. She came back through the consolation bracket to pin Kent Meridian’s Elizabeth Stone in 2 minutes, 56 seconds, for third place.

About the only thing that could dampen the day for Spring was the Pepto Bismol pink graphic on the front of her souvenir T-shirt with “State Qualifier” emblazoned on one arm. It was clear that she wasn’t thrilled about the weak attempt to add a feminine touch to her sport.

Shiosaki and Wolczko were almost as excited as Spring when her 5-3 quarterfinal decision over Trish Costello of North Mason assured her a state slot.

Spring got a free ride through the semifinal when her opponent injury defaulted. Even getting pinned by North Kitsap’s Megan Evans in the final couldn’t dim the smile she wore after her quarterfinal.

As the only 1A school, the smallest of the 31 schools in the regionals, and with only three girls, The Pirates’ team finish at sixth is impressive. On Friday and Saturday, the Pirate girls will be joined by Vashon’s boys at the Tacoma Dome for Mat Classic.